Alexis says, "Well. We found it. Ummmmmm... I don't see any of the sovereign host coming to pick us up, so... I think we are supposed to use it?"

She's right in that no gods materialize. And the group is still stuck in a 2-room cave with a Gibbering Beast in the other room conversing with itself. Dol Dorn is somewhere saying, "And people wonder why I would do something impulsive like turn the knobs..."

Alexis says, "Let's try picking a knob and turning it backwards?" thankfully, the notches are clearly marked as what is start and what is finish for the knobs.

"I was hoping you all would have more insight into what those knobs do before we started turning them," Beldal says, "But I suppose you're as much in the dark as I am on that note.  I guess the only options now are to give that a try or wait...  And given the nature of our mission, waiting doesn't seem like much of an option.  Only other thing I can suggest is that we probably have to all be touching it when it's activated for it to transport us all out of here together... if that's what it does."

  Eletor says "There are many mysteries to the God's actions and Artifacts.  However if the pun is forgive, our answers to these important questions will be found in time."

  Eletor considers those with him, "Before we do put it to use, we must decide where and when our destination shall be.  Considering the moon crashing to the earth seems to have been the primary cause of destruction we could see ourselves, that seems a tempting location if we could ascertain we would be able to survive upon it.  I am open to suggestions on how to manage that, and any other destinations felt to be helpful to the overall cause."

  They consider the disc once more, "I ask you all, of all the enchanted equipment you own has there ever been any need for instructions for the usage of their more interesting capabilities?  I feel it safe to assume you have not.  Just as I feel safe in assuming divine artifacts are no less complete in their production standards.  We'll find out for certain in the next ten seconds."

After a few minutes, nothing happens.

The Wilden speaks up, breaking the silence, “Well that didn't seem to do anything, guess this relic doesn't come with an instruction manual, or if it did that gibbering beast may still have it.”

Durtendin is close enough to the relic to reach out and touch it if everyone in the group is told to do so before anyone tries to use the relic again, but other than that, the Druid remains still and quiet as he does not have a clue as to what should be done now.

Alexis says, "I guess we don't have a choice besides fiddling with it." she puts a hand on it gently. "Whatever you may believe in, our time has come. I believe we were chosen for this. Perhaps by fate itself, but for sure by the gods as we saw one choose us first hand. Why us? Dunno. But there it is."

With everyone's hand on the device, Alexis turns one of the gemstone nobs backward a bit, being careful not to go too far, but also being careful not to go back too little.

The place warps around them as they hear a rewind sound and they rather suddenly appear in a place familiar to Beldal... namely his home. It isn't in ruins and something seems different.

Beldal instantly recognizes the place and "gasps" a sharp inhale through his nose, teeth gritted behind his tightened lips.

"This is what my home looked like before it was invaded," he says to his new allies, "Hundreds of miles from Sharn.  That thing must have moved us through space and time to my past... But something's off..."

He wracks his brains and carefully studies the scene trying to figure out what exactly's off.  But fails to put his finger on it.

  Eletor considers the scene as well, although he is only able to gauge their general location (19 roll, yeeeeaaaaaaaah) as opposed to the finer details Beledal could.  Obvious considering the Dwarf lived here.

  "Well I'll discount the fact it has yet to be invaded as not being what is off.  Would what's off have anything to do with the possible large scale coincidence we have arrived shortly before said invasion and you're recognizing the events from the outside?"

Durtendin considers the situation based on what others have spoken up about. “If the invasion has not occurred yet, would we be wrong to try and prevent or stop it? Do we know if stopping the invasion would help us with our quest? Would we even be able to make a difference in this situation? If so, what are we doing standing here and not trying to make a difference?”
While Durtendin knows he isn't that knowledgeable when it comes to history, he does know that if enough 'good guys' can be saved, it might help tilt the balance to avoid the fate that the group witnessed. Or at least it could point them on the right track by providing clues.

Alexis says, "Well... if this is your home, Beldal, then you should lead the way. You know your way around and, well... if we really *are* in the past, we should find out just how far in the past."

It's about then that a gnome walks over to the bunch and says, "'Ello there, young trav'lers! M'name's Frolly an' I couldn't help notice you bunch seem to be adventurers of some kind. An' you'ins sucha diverse group! Ye got an elf and a wilden along side a dwarf'n a human. Next then you know, you'll have a shifter or a drow atchyer sides! I couldn't help but overhear one of yas saying something about trying to make a difference? Well didn'tchya read the latest news? Or'd ye just get here?"

He holds up a newspaper.

Beldal wants to avoid using his name, so he doesn't make with his customary introductions.  He takes a peek at the newspaper paying particular attention to the date.  He reads the date to the others.  This is long before the invasion.  He'd be a child of 8 or so on this date.  He thinks back and lightbulbs.

"Wow," he says, "I... remember now...  When I was a kid there was this strange group that visited my home town.  A beautiful elf woman, a Wilden, a human man, and a dwarf man who never showed his face.  Strange coincidence."

( Of course, Beldal went to the trouble of wearing his helmet with the faceplate in the down position when facing the Gibbering Beast, and hasn't flipped it open since. )

"No I hadn't heard the news," he answers Frolly, "And yes, we've just arrived."

  "Dol Dorn's blessing goes with all like minded people who travel this land.  Of course, it also goes with those of violently opposed minds.  But that's just because Dol Dorn is fair that way, even if the losing side wished otherwise."

  He awaits the answer from the Gnome if he can't read the front page of the paper from where he is.  Or if there are not other paper's conveniently handy.

Durtendin glances to Beldal and says, “There are no such things as coincidence, just fate.”

The Wilden Druid continues to think to himself, but chooses to not voice these thoughts while people not in the group are in earshot, 'it seems that we are going to fulfill a role that has already been laid out for us. Hopefully we will be successful, but since Beldal remembers us from his childhood, then how can what we do here be what changes things in order to prevent what we have already witnessed?'

Alexis blushes a little from Beldal calling her beautiful. Her inner racist ironically makes this especially pleasant since she least expected such a compliment to her from a dwarf.

The gnome hands the newspaper over. To those who can see, the date clearly reads 980 YK, which is 20 years before the world ends (1,000 YK). The headlines read that Princess Aurala of Aundair has become Queen of Aundair. But the news article the gnome is pointing to reads that House Ferrous is looking for a group of adventurers to do a job. They are paying 10,000 gold to be divided between the adventurers (This would mean 2.5k for each of us).

Frolly chuckles from Eletor's statement and says, "Ya sound like a politician there, mister!" He gives a mock-impersonation of an important person. "Dol Dorn neither confirms nor denies the intermingling of races to be cosher."

Beldal nods to Durtendin's observation.  He was aiming at letting his allies know that this whole thing has apparently already happened without sounding like a crazy.

"Impressive bounty," he says, looking at the article, "Must be very dangerous.  Right up our alley.  Thanks, Mr. Frolly.  We'll go present ourselves to House Ferrous, then.  You're welcome to tag along as far as they'll allow if you like, sir."

He leads the way like he knows where he's going.  Because he does.

  "Oh, I'm nowhere near convincing enough to make it as a politician kind sir.  Although warring between races would by necessity require intermingling of races."  The Giant axes hang out with the Dwarven hammers.  For Violence.

  "As said, you are more than welcome to join us if you so desire.  If not, I wish you well."
This message was last edited by the player at 06:51, Fri 06 Aug 2010.

Durtendin follows along as the group heads towards House Ferrous while pondering the situation. Given that Durtendin does not wish to possibly influence Beldal's past in a negative fashion, the Wilden carefully chooses his words, “I suspect that the job we are going to undertake for House Ferrous may be somehow related to the last request made of us,” as Durtendin hints to the request to save 'existence' since he feels that it would be unwise to blurt out that the group is from the future and has seen a possible manner in which the world ends.

Frolly follows the group since Beldal knows the way. Alexis is looking around in amazement. She's been here before, but... she's never time traveled. Besides, the place is always an amazing sight. "This is such an impressive place..." she comments idly. "And you all are an impressive lot!" Frolly counters. "Look atchya! You look like you've done this adventure thing for some time."

The group is fast arriving at House Ferrous.

Beldal smiles at the compliments to his team and his home.

"Glad you like," he says generically to both Alexis and Frolly, "I think you may be right, Durtendin."

Once inside House Ferrous he introduces himself and his allies by their first names.

"We're interested in the job advertised in the paper," he explains, "What exactly is it that needs done?"

  "Oh, despite my vocation I have done far more preaching than smiting in the name of my personally preferred deity."  Although you could likely say for most PC's beyond Carla and Maverick than you do more talking than fighting regardless.  "It is indeed an enjoyable view Frolly.  I do hope that if the task is one we take up, it is one that the completion of will bring some improvement to your lives, if even only just making it more convenient."

Durtendin keeps a casual eye out while approaching House Ferrous with the group, not out of suspicion that someone would cause trouble, but purely out of habit due to his experiences as a mercenary for hire.

It isn't until Beldal inquires as to what the job is that Durtendin stops glancing around, with an attentive look on his face as the wilden knows that depending on the job being requested, it would be wise to consider changing which Aspect he is manifesting.

Durtendin keeps quiet for the time being as the druid figures it would be best to let Beldal talk since he knows far more about those the group is dealing with than anyone else in the group.

The man there is obviously a dwarf. He raises an eyebrow at the group. "Well.. now THIS is what I was hoping to catch the attention of with that large reward I posted!" he proclaims loudly as he stands up. "There's a mine we've hit recently that seems protected by some very strange monsters. Powerful, they are! But one look at you and your crew, I'm confident you bunch can safeguard our miners!" The dwarf has a grizzled, dirty voice like a rock monster who chain smokes. Would make great for a vocalist on a Death Metal band. "But where on Eberron are my manners?! The name's Adrik Stormfellow! Please! Have seats and introduce yo-MORADIN'S BEARD! Wha..." that last part said as he notices Durtendin.

Frolly is a little intimidated at Adrik's shock, but quickly remembers Dwarves might not even hear about Wilden out this way. "He's a wilden, sir. They are nature's creatures..."

Adrik calms a bit and grins broader. "Like I was saying! Sit! Introduce yourselves! Each at a time, tell me your name and a little about yourself! Or a lot if you like! The mining project will take a while to start back up anyway, so we have time!"

Alexis nods and has a seat, letting the others go first with introductions, lest she seem assertive.

Beldal takes his seat.  "Name's Beldal.  I'm a mercenary warlord.  I've oh...  5 or 6 years combat experience.  I'm also handy with the hammer outside combat.  Made pretty much everything I'm carrying.  I specialize in front line tactical leadership.  Keeping my allies alive and getting my enemies dead as efficiently as a machine.  I'd like to know more about these strange monsters you mention.  They the overgrown wolf with spines sticking out variety of strange?  Or we talking piles of flesh covered in mouths and eyes level of strange?"

Yeah.  This group knows strange by now.

  Eletor wonders if his prior to doom experience made him open minded enough to just go with Durtendin being a plant person, or if this Dwarf just needs to get out more.  "I am Eletor, a simple servant of Dol Dorn and practitioner of the less divine healing arts." You could hardly tell Eletor had any Avenger powers from watching him in a fight, if it wasn't for the teleporting and occasional sparksplodion stab.

  "While I have only known my companions a short while, I have seen enough to know Beldal speaks the truth."

Durtendin is quite used to some people not realizing what a Wilden is and doesn't seem bothered by Adrik's reaction. “My name is Durtendin. I am Wilden who has been trained since I was young to be a Druid. When not working with the sect of Druids that trained me, or out adventuring like I am right now, I have been employed as an Explorer, a Wilderness Guide, and a Mercenary. I have several years of experience in protecting others from foes both natural and unnatural. I specialize in summoning primal spirit allies and locking down foes in order to provide strategic advantage to my comrades and myself.” For the time being, Durtendin does not know if it would be wise to mention House Tharashk, so Durtendin remains silent about which sect of druids trained him or his connection to House Tharashk.